Does Everlasting Love Really Exist?

“For you, a thousand times over”- From ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini.

That silent and limitless feeling whose intensity and truthfulness is often compared to be as profound as the depths of blue ocean, immeasurable as the expanse of the vast universe, pure as clear water, everlasting as immutable eternity; that so-called ‘Everlasting Love’, does it really exist, or it is just a prelude to a stage of delusion?

Whereas the romantics believe in the concept of everlasting love, some cynics doubt its existence. Literature is also not untouched by this opposing opinion, as in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte,

“Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same… If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.”

And on the other hand, there’s a different estimation of love altogether,

“Take it from me; love has all the lasting permanence of a rainbow- beautiful while it’s there, and just as likely to have disappeared by the time you blink” – Jodi Picoult.

This certainly leaves us in a state of dilemma and compels us to ponder about the veracity of this pious feeling. Everyone dreams of the everlasting freshness of love and a story that continues for ages, but is that dream going to be anywhere near reality?

Instead of analyzing and scrutinizing a beautiful sentiment, wouldn’t it be just easier to accept the feeling in its most natural and original form, and to seamlessly acknowledge the other person just as they are- with their qualities and flaws alike, without the urge to change them, and wholly accepting every bit of that person! When we enjoy every moment spent with that person and cherish even the thought of that someone special, the state of happiness lasts not for moments, but is bound to persist over days, months, and years together.

Whether there are glorious days or moments of gloom, those sentiments remain unchanged for the partner. Sailing gleefully through the sunny days and dark cloudy nights, with the only thought that being together is all that matters in the end. The mutual respect that overpowers the frictions that arise due to the differences, an inbuilt sense of trust in the togetherness, and the bliss of finding a safe haven in the companionship!

Beyond these heavenly stages, and feeling of utopia, we are also thrown to the tests of times, hard truths of life, and reality of the dystopian world of love, relationships, and relations, that snap us out of that fuzzy state. Giving rise to a sinking feeling that this everlasting love is nothing but a recipe for disaster, where everything else starts seeping in and eroding that supreme emotion. Is everlasting love only existent in books, movies, imaginations, and illusions?

Isn’t love made up of those micro-moments of connectivity that we feel for our partner, a surge of positivity that becomes the building block of lasting emotions? A strong and stable relationship is possible when we learn to find those small moments of joy, adoration, connection in togetherness instead of aiming for grand gestures of love. Using the virtue of patience, overstepping the unrealistic expectations, and relishing the romantic passion help survive the newfangled modern-day love and its changing trends. Finding common interests to participate in fun activities and inculcating shared hobbies to make the bond stronger each day, and all with a pinch of appreciation every now and then! Sticking to the wisdom of enjoying the togetherness and its importance, but at the same time being wary of holding on to a toxic relation, goes a long way.

Whether it is marriage or relationship, let there be avenues for mutual growth and goodness! Isn’t it more gratifying to invest time and dedication in discovering the companion rather than focusing on finding that missing piece to perfectly fit our life?

Accepting the imperfect in the companionate love and committing to each other bypassing the dangerous arenas of relationship, an everlasting love is not far from truth even in the current times. There’s more to the spectrum of everlasting love than the mere expectation of a thunderous catch. We merely have to keep exploring all the while as we continue to ride the tide of the bliss called everlasting love.

About the Columnist

An HR-turned-Author, Jyoti Jha is an MBA by qualification and has been associated with corporates like Infosys and Whirlpool in the past. Having lived in the USA and UK for more than a decade, she embarked upon the journey of exploring the field of literature. A Literary Critic, Columnist, and an esteemed winner of ‘The Times of India Write India Season 3’, she has authored the books, ‘The Realms of Human Emotions’ and ‘Around The World Through My Lens’. A proud panelist and Guest Speaker in Talk Shows at prestigious institutions like IIM Lucknow, IIT Delhi, IIT Jammu, and Christ College, she has been featured in various esteemed media houses.